Allies of Albanian president create new party

April 30, 2012|Reuters

* Centre-right party to shake up polarised politics

* President's term ends in July, expected to lead party

* Topi will challenge PM Berisha on crime and corruption

By Benet Koleka

TIRANA, April 30 (Reuters) - Allies of Albanian PresidentBamir Topi announced the creation of a new party on Monday,threatening to shake up the Balkan country's polarised politicalscene and challenge Prime Minister Sali Berisha.

Topi's five-year term as president is due to end in July andhe is expected to take charge of the new centre-right party, NewDemocratic Spirit (NDS), when members elect a leader inSeptember.

Since the fall of communism two decades ago, politics inAlbania has been dominated by Berisha's Democratic Party and theSocialist Party, currently in opposition.

Topi, a Democrat before he gave up party allegiance to serveas president, has been locked in confrontation with Berisha,accusing his government of failing to fight corruption andstrengthen law and order in Albania.

The European Union is withholding coveted candidate statusfor the country, home to 2.8 million people and one of thepoorest nations in Europe, over the lack of progress.

"The ideological profile of NDS will be centre-right and itwill stand for liberal ideas," said former Deputy Prime MinisterGazmend Oketa, a lawmaker who split from the ruling DemocraticParty to help form the new party.

"We shall represent the interests of the middle class. Thisstratum has grown with great toil, but it has not beenrepresented with dignity by any party."

He said the new party would work to help former politicaldissidents and citizens stripped of property by the communists,two issues championed by 55-year-old Topi.

The conference hall where the announcement of the new partywas made, opposite the parliament building, was so packed thatsupporters spilled out onto the street and listened onloudspeakers that had been set up.

A former ally of Berisha, Topi was elected president withthe votes of the Democrats and six opposition MPs who crossedthe floor to back him.

He has neither confirmed nor denied that he will take chargeof the new party, saying only that he would return to politicsafter his presidential mandate ends "to contribute to higherstandards of Albanian democracy".